Vessel towing assembly



Nov. 8, 1955 H. B. DYER VESSEL TOWING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 12, 1952INVENTOR H. B. DYER AT TORNEY United States Patent ampo vnssnL TOWINGASSEMBLY Application August 12, 1952, Serial No. 303,865 Claims.01.114435 This invention relates to marine transportation and moreparticularly to that form in which two or more vessels are coupled. t

In inland waterway shipping it is frequently necessary to couple bargestogether or to couple a towboat to a barge, the towboat generally beingused behind the barge in order to move it along 'the waterway. Intransportation of this ,nature is is customary to lash together aplurality of vessels. In the course of a voyage from one point toanother it may become necessary because of passage through a lock thatthe vessels be rearranged, thus necessitating uncoupling and recoupling;also certain vessels may reach their destination before others in thegroup. Because of the bulk and weight of the vessels and the exigenciesof movement on a waterway it is necessary that the vessels be firmlycoupled together. On the other hand it is desirable that the time andexpense of couplin and uncoupling be held to a minimum.

In coupling marine vessels, as for example a barge 'to atowb'oat orbarges together, his the practice to employ lashing which engagesmembers fixed to the adjacent vessels. For example, in the case of abarge which is to be pushed by a towboat, lashing is employed on thestarboard and port sides of the vessels from the stern of the barge tothe bow of the towboat. The lashing on each side is comparableand-similarly positioned to that on the other side in order that therelative positions of thevessels will remain the same after coupling.

When the two vessels are brought together it is customary to loop manilarope over a bitt at the stern of the barge and to bring it backaround aroller on the bow of the towboat and to a power capstan, this beingcarried out preferably simultaneously on each side of the vessel. Thistemporary lashing initially positions the two vessels in proper positionfor more permanent lashing. It is then customary to employ wire ropeadjacent to the manila rope, one such wire rope being disposed veryclose to the manila rope in order to substantially duplicate itscoupling action. Another wire rope is attached further along the sidetoward the bow of the barge and toward the stern of the towboat in orderto provide greater leverage against relative turning movement betweenthe vessels.

Heretofore,-inasmuch as the wire rope that is positioned immediatelyafter the manila rope has not been aligned with the manila rope, it hasbeen necessary to employ more runs of wire rope and consequently moredevices on the decks of the vessels for engagement therewith. Theinvention however includes an improved coupling member around which boththe manila rope and the wire rope may be engaged at the same time inorder that the direction of pull of the wire rope will correspond tothat of the manila rope, thus simplifying the lashing of the vessels.

As a result 'of using the improved coupling member a simplified lashingarrangement may be employed which affords numerous advantages.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acoupling member for use on a vessel which is particularly adapted toexpedite the coupling and uncoupling of vessels.

A further object is to provide a combination bitt for use on a vesselwhich is adapted to receive two loops of lashing in substantialalignment and to permit either to be removed without interference fromthe other.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of lashing forcoupling a pair of vessels, which is simpler to employ, uses lessmaterial, and requires less time for coupling and uncoupling.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective of a combination bitt embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the use of the combination bitt withthe improved lashing arrangement.

Briefly stated the invention includes a novel coupling member adapted toengage a plurality of lashings simultaneously, and a simplified lashingarrangement obtainable through the use of the bitt.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved coupling memberincludes a combination bitt having a portion 10 of large diameter and bymeans of which the bitt may be permanently attached to the deck 11 of avessel and has a portion 12 of small diameter intimately joined thereto.The portion 10 includes a base plate or ring 13 beveled on its upperperipheral surface and attachable to the deck of a vessel such as abarge 21 and spaced from an opposed plate member 14. The portion 10 oflarge diameter is formed of a ring 15 rigidly attached to the plates 13and 14, the space therebetween and around the ring 15 providing a grooveadapted to receive a wire cable.

The bitt portion 12 is of cylindrical shape 16 rigidly attached at oneend to the plate 14. The plate 14 has a centrally apertured portion 17for receiving the lower end of the portion of cylindrical shape 16. Theupper end of the portion 16 has an enlarged portion or head 18 definedby an annulus or ring shaped pipe member 19 which extends around theupper end of the cylindrical portion 16.

A convex end plate 20 attached to the member 18 closes the end of thecylinder 16 and provides a smooth outwardly bowed surface over which aloop of rope may easily be slipped or applied.

In the use of my combination bitt it is contemplated that the eye orloop on the end of a length of rope may be placed over the portion 12 ofthe bitt for temporary lashing, the other end being fastened on anadjoining vessel. A wire cable may then be engaged over the enlargedportion 10 of the bitt and drawn tight to exert force in the samedirection as the already secured rope.

In the use of my combination bitt, and referring more particularly toFig. 3, in the lashing of the barge 21 to the towboat 22 the eye or loopend 23 of the length of rope 24 is placed over the portion 12 of thebitt and the rope is looped around a roller chock 25 on the towboat anddrawn tight by means of the power capstan 26. All operations of lashingare carried on at each side of the vessels substantially simultaneously.

The initial coupling of the vessels is carried out with suitable cablesuch as rope inasmuch as it is relatively easy to manipulate manuallyduring the initial stageof maneuvering the vessels together in thedesired position. After the temporary lashing is secured the morepermanent lashing is applied. This may be a cable of wire.

In accordance with the present invention, the eye or loop 28 of wirecable 29 is applied to a bitt 30 spaced of the device as shown in aftofitheabow'behindtheroller chock 25. The wire cable is then trainedaround the large diameter portion of the combination bitt, and broughtback around the after portion of a roller chock 31 L011 the deck of thetowboat, which chock is :positioned 'forwardly -.of .the roller chock25, from wwhich chock 31=the \wire cable is cngaged with a poweroperated winch 32 of conventionalconstruction. ThewinchlSZ on :each side.of the towboa't may then be drawn tight without =danger l of changingthe :relative .p osition'of the vessels'inasmuch'asthe wire cable actsto draw the vessels togetherzalong substantially the same line as therope which is already in :place.

LAt this :stage of the lashing the vessels are securely and :morepermanently coupled together. However, in order to afford greaterleverage againstiturning, additional lashings :are .applied to-'cooperate 'with ithat already in place.

In the drawing, :a loop or :eye 34 ofwire cable 351s placed over abutton bitt 3'6 spaced aforwardly of the combination bitt. The cable isthen trained :around a roller chock 37, spaced substantially 'rearwardlyof the bitt 30 on the towboat, and back around a fairheadSB on'the=barge, forwardly of thebitt 36, an'dthen to a power operated winch39. Tightening \of the wire cable 35 completes the lashing of thevessels. The rope 24 may then be removed without :interference from any:of the other las'hingsdn :order that it may be available for other use.

It should'be observed that the more permanent type lashingdescribed-requires only'fourlengths of cable,-two on each side of thevessel, and is simple to apply. Without the use of my novel combinationbitt and lashing arrangement, however, it has been the practiceheretofore'to use alashing having eight lengths of cableon each side ofthe vessels.

Through the use of the combination bitt, 'two cables ofdifferentmaterials may be used in engagement with the sarne'bitt and either ofthem maybe readily removed without interference from the other. Thecombination bittis sturdy andsimpleto manufacture and use.

Accordingly, the invention includes a combination bitt having a groovedportion, for rigid attachment to the deck of a vessel and a secondportion-of smaller diameter axially aligned with the first of greateraxial length and of less diameter. The combination bitt is adapted tohave atemporary lashing engaged with itssecondp'ortion of smallerdiameter and a more permanent type withits first portion. It is alsoparticularly adapted'for use with the simplified lashing arrangementdescribed above, *by

means of which towboats, barges, and the like may be easily and simplycoupled and uncoupl'edwlth the use of less-cable, a fewer nutriberofengaging members for the cable on the decks of the vesselsyandwith theconsequent expenditure of less time in coupling and uncouplingoperations.

ltwill'be app'arent'to thoseskilled in'the art that various changes maybe made in the embodiment disclosed Without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, and therefore the invention .is notlimitedto the specific embodiment described and shown, but only asappears in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination lbittcomprising a first substantially plane ring,.forattachment to the deck of a vessel, a first hollow cylindrical memberwithin the ring and secured thereto, 'aisecond substantially plane ringhaving an outer diameter greater than the first cylindrical member andan inner diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of thefirst ring, said second ring being fixedly secured in spaced parallelrelation with respect to said "first ring for receiving a bight of awire rope therebetween, a second cylindrical member of less diameterthan said first cylindrical member positioned with one end'in theopening in said second ring and fixedly secured thereto, and'an annularabutrnent'secured to "the other end of'said ll second cylindrical memberfor retaining a loop of a rope on said second cylindrical member.

2. A tow comprising a pair of vessels, a combination bitt having a wirecable engaging portion of large diameter and a manila rope engagingportion of a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of the cableongaging portion to facilitate removal of the manila rope fixed to onevessel with the large diameter portion adjacent the deck, said portions-being coaxial and separated by a flange, a manila rope having an eye atone end arranged with the eye around said smaller diameter portion ofthe *bittysaid flange comprising'a-su'bstantially plane ring projectingoutwardly from said large diameter portion to retain the cable againstaxial displacement, a roller chock mounted on the other vessel with themanila rope engaging the same, means on said other vessel to which theother end of the rope is secured for producing a pull on said rope, aconventional bitt fixed on said other vessel to one side of said rollerchock, a wire cable-having an eye at one end fixed with its eye aroundsaid conventional bitt on said other vessel, .said wire cable extendingfrom said conventional bitt:to the said larger diameter portion ofsaidcombination bitt and back to said other vessel, a second roller chock onsaid other vessel on the opposite side of said manila rope from saidconventional bitt, and means on saidother'vessel "for producing a pullon said wire cable.

3. A tow comprising a pair of vessels, a combination bitt having a wirecableengaging portion of large diameter and a manila rope engagingportion of a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of the cableengaging portion to facilitate removal of the manila rope fixed to onevessel with the large diameter portion adjacentthe deck, said portionsbeing coaxialand separated by a flange, a manila rope having an eye atone end arranged with the eye .around saidzsmaller diameter portion ofthe bid, said flange comprising a substantially plane ring projectingoutwardly from said large diameter portion to :retain the cable [againstaxial displacement, a roller chock mounted on the other vessel with themanila rope engaging the same, means on said other vessel to which theother-end of the rope is secured for producing a pull on said rope, aconventional bitt fixed on said other vessel to one side of said rollerchock, a wire cable having an eye at one end fixed with its eye aroundsaid conventional bitt on said other vessel, said wire cable extendingfrom said conventional bitt to the said larger diameter portion of saidcombination bitt and back to said other vessel, a second roller chock onsaid other vessel on the opposite side of said manila rope from saidconventional bitt, and means on said other vessel for producing a pullon said Wire cable, and :further .lashing means for reinforcing saidrope and wire cable, said .rope and said wire cable being so arrangedthat the runs thereof are generally parallel and either the rope-orthe-cable may be removed without removing the other.

'4. A bitt comprising 'a base plate for attachment to the deck ofa'vessel, a first cylinder extending up from said plate a height of atleast the diameter of a wire rope to be used therewith, a firstflangecomprising a substantially :plane ring projecting outwardly fromsaid first cylinder'asufiicient distance to-retain the wire rope usedtherewith against axial displacement, a second cylinder ofsubstantiallylcss diameter than said first cylinder and projectingupwardly from said first flange, said second cylinder being generallycoaxial with the first cylinder, and a secondfiange on the upper-end ofsaid second cylinder projecting outwardly a lesser distance than saidfirst flangeto retain a'manila rope on said'second cylinder, thediam'etero'f said second cylinder being appreciably less than thediameter of the first cylinder, whereby said flanges and differentdiameters of the cylinders preclude the 'wire rope and manila rope fromentanglement.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shepardson Feb. 22, 1870Frick Mar. 8, 1881 10 McCabe June 23, 1885 Nowland Oct. 19, 1920 Symondset al Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1898 Great BritainIan. 23, 1919 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1930 Germany Sept. 19, 1936 GreatBritain Nov. 22, 1950

